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Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Year SIX: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #44 (A few days late and many dollars short)

Happy Tuesday :)

I'm a bit behind. This weekend is to blame, if only because it was busy. But we'll get to that. Right now, let's get to the Year of Projects update.


Finished Objects (FOs):
1. Pussy Hat: started January 10, 2017; finished January 16, 2017
2. Hermione's Everyday Socks (v2): started November 14, 2016; finished January 28, 2017
3. Frene Creek Farm Corriedale (spinning): started October 12, 2016; finished January 16, 2017
4. Pikachu Hat: started February 3, 2017; finished February 10, 2017
5. Trusty (v2): started December 22, 2016; finished February 24, 2017
6. Pussy Hat: started February 13, 2017; finished February 27, 2017
7. Pussy Hat: started March 2, 2017; finished March 8, 2017
8. Pussy Hat: started March 9, 2017; finished March 21, 2017
9. Pussy Hat: started March 21, 2017; finished March 30, 2017
10. FlockSock Yarn #1: started April 5, 2017; finished April 5, 2017
11. FlockSock Yarn #2: started April 5, 2017; finished April 5, 2017
12. #initiateknitdesign challenge from ArohaKnits: started April 3, 2017; finished April 11, 2017
13. Knit Picks Bare Palette Fingering: started April 9, 2017; finished April 9, 2017
14. Malabrigo Rios: started April 9, 2017; finished April 9, 2017
15. Nashua Creative Focus Superwash: started April 9, 2017; finished April 9, 2017
16. Pussy Hat: started April 13, 2017; finished April 30, 2017
17. Pussy Hat: started April 30, 2017; finished May 13, 2017
18. Messed Up Moss: started January 4, 2017; finished May 17, 2017
19. Pussy Hat: started May 19. 2017; finished May 23, 2017
20. Pussy Hat: started May 24, 2017; finished May 26, 2017
21. Baby Pussy Hat: started May 26, 2017; finished May 26, 2017
22. Pussy Hat: started May 26, 2017; finished May 26, 2017
23. Bugga Bare (2 matching): started June 3, 2017; finished June 4, 2017
24. Bugga Bare: started June 3, 2017; finished June 4, 2017
25. Bugga Bare: started June 3, 2017; finished June 4, 2017
26. Malabrigo Twist: started June 3, 2017; finished June 4, 2017
27. Malabrigo Twist: started June 3, 2017; finished June 4, 2017
23. Vanilla Socks: started March 30, 2017; finished June 8, 2017
24. Stormageddon's Vest: started October 17 2016; finished June 9, 2017
25. BMFA Handpainted Roving: started March 23, 2017; finished June 23, 2017
26: Malabrigo Sock: started July 3, 2017; finished July 4, 2017
27. Malabrigo Sock: started July 3, 2017; finished July 4, 2017
28. Sanguine Gryphon Traveller: started July 3, 2017; finished July 4, 2017
29. Sanguine Gryphon Traveller: started July 3, 2017; finished July 4, 2017
30. Bonbon for Miss C: started June 24, 2017; finished July 6, 2017
31. Sandy's Palette Merino/Silk Roving: started July 1, 2017; finished July 7, 2017
32. Sandy's Palette Merino/Silk Roving: started July 2, 2017; finished July 10, 2017
33. Miss Babs BFL: started July 11, 2017; finished July 21, 2017
34. Yarn Dyeing Adventures: started August 6, 2017; finished August 6, 2017
35. Unnamed Hat: started August 14, 2017; finished August 24, 2017
36. Veggie Socks: started July 6, 2017; finished September 8, 2017
37. Wasabi for Mr. K: started September 17, 2017; finished September 25, 2017
*38. Twilight Socks (from blanks): started June 8, 2017; frogged September 26, 2017

Nope, nothing new to see here (hahahahahaha!).



Works-in-Progress (WIPs):
1. Wink: started January 5, 2015
2. Oh, She IS a Bad Nut: started August 11, 2016
3. Fall in San Francisco (prototype 3): started October 4, 2016
4. Smooth Operator Socks: started October 13, 2016
5. Morvarch Aardvark: started January 1, 2017
6. Stomping Grounds collection: started February 26, 2017 (no project page)
7. Hat Design: started March 20, 2017
8. Vanillaish Rainbow Socks: started June 1, 2017
9. Garter Stitch Baby Blanket: started July 6, 2017
10. New Hat Design (for the unnamed hat in the FO section): started August 14, 2016
11. Neck-Down Base Shawl: started September 10, 2017
12. Shetland Neck Wool on Support Spindle: started September 8, 2017
13. Boo-Yah: started September 25, 2017
14. Gamer Bag: started September 28, 2017
15. Paradiddle Prototype: started October 19, 2017
16. Baby Hat Prototype: started October 23, 2017

It appears that I have some weird form of Startitis. 

I picked up a bag of bits and bobs and started another hat. This is made of the same pattern format as the Unnamed Hat in the FO section and the New Hat Design listed above (#10) but it's in DK/worsted weight so some numbers are different and it's coming out smaller. It was intended to be a baby hat but I think it's going to fit Stormageddon or Little Man when I'm done. I'm almost done, actually. 

That's honestly about the only knitting I've done, though. I think I did some rows on the baby blanket and the Vanillaish Rainbow Socks but nothing spectacular. I'm kind of boring.


17 UFOs in 2017
1. Wink: started January 5, 2015
2. Oh, She IS a Bad Nut: started August 11, 2016
3. Fall in San Francisco (prototype 3): started October 4, 2016
4. Frene Creek Farm Corriedale (spinning): started October 12, 2016; finished January 16, 2017 **DONE**
5. Smooth Operator Socks: started October 13, 2016
6. Stormageddon's Vest: started October 17, 2016 **DONE**
7. Hermione's Everyday Socks (v2): started November 14, 2016; finished January 28, 2017 **DONE**
8. Trusty (v2): started December 22, 2016 **DONE**
9. Design: Susan's Hat
10. Design: Little Man's Baby Blanket
11. Design: Paradiddle Socks (aka Little Drummer Girl)
12. Design: Pacific Waves Hat
13. Design: Fall in San Francisco Hat
14. Stash Inventory (photos, in Rav database) **DONE**
15. Dystopian Novel
16. Doctor Who blanket (1)
17. Doctor Who blanket (2)




And my "OMGLSGWTFBBQ" Lists

Children's Items:
1. Stuffed toy for Miss E (SIL's adopted daughter)
2. Stuffed toy for TAZ (brother's daughter)
3. Undetermined hat for Little Man
4. Undetermined hat for Stormageddon
5. Mittens for Little Man
6. Mittens for Stormageddon


Items for ME (selfish knitting FTW!):
1. Park Slope (fingering, specifically Mountain Colors Crazy Foot)
2. Worsted weight house socks (worsted, of course - maybe something like Lumberjack)
4. Evangeline (worsted; solid or semi-solid)
5. Lichen (Aran or Sport/DK; solid or semi-solid)
6. Moyen Age (fingering; one of my Vice Yarns? Zen Yarn Garden Serenity 20?)
7. Ginny's Cardigan (DK; solid or semi-solid)
8. Drip Drip Drop (sock; solid or semi-solid)
9. Celtic Myths (worsted; solid)
10. Jag in Garter Stitch (DK; 2 colors)
11. Cobh (fingering; 2 colors)
12. Offhand Lace (bulky; solid or semi-solid)
13. Whitman (DK; any color)
14. Flax (worsted; any color - Misti Alpaca Harry Potter-esque one?)
15. Hoar Frost (Wollmeise that's wound in the bag)


Christmas/Charity Bin:

1. 198 Yds of Heaven (worsted; solid)
2. Comfort Food (Aran; solid)
3. Tombreck (worsted; solid or semi-solid)
4. Premie Spiral Hat (DK; any color)
5. Pumpkins & a Pattern (any weight, any color - gauge doesn't matter)


Designs:

1. Susan's Hat *started* - need new prototype & write pattern
2. Little Man's Baby Blanket *started* - write pattern
3. Paradiddle Socks  *started* - need prototype & write pattern
4. Pacific Waves Hat *started* - need another prototype & write pattern
5. Fall in San Francisco *started* - need another prototype & write pattern
6. Stormageddon's Baby Blanket - need prototype & write pattern
7. Cabled pullover (grey look-alike sweater) - need sketch, grading, swatch, prototype, & write pattern
8. Christmas stocking for Little Man - need charts, prototype, & write pattern (maybe)
9. Christmas stocking for Stormageddon - need charts, prototype, & write pattern (maybe)
10. Christmas stocking for Husband - need charts, prototype, & write pattern (maybe)
11. Stomping Grounds collection (everything: charts, prototypes, swatches, etc.) *started*
2. Wash & start processing Alpaca fleece from Lambtown
3. Wash & start processing Merino fleece from Lambtown


Other:
1. Stitch markers
2. Make sure my vintage patterns are in Ravelry (Workbasket magazines, leaflets, etc.)




In California news, it's been a rough week around here. Little Man went back to school last week, his classroom's Halloween party was on Friday, and I feel like I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off but I have nothing to really show for it, if that makes any sense.


Firstly, our dog is dumb. He's a hunting dog, specifically birds. This is what he did when Husband played pheasant noises on his phone. He just kind of looked around for a moment and then went back to cuddling with Little Man. Dumb dog. Of course, he's never been a hunting dog, but that's what Brittanys are know to do. It was amusing that his instinct didn't take over.

Last weekend on Sunday, we went to a birthday party for a friend of Little Man's. The boys had a ton of fun and it was the first time we had seen friends since break started so there was a lot of catching up to do. We were in Wisconsin, we had other friends that spent time in San Diego (his first proper vacation since before their daughter was born, and she had just turned 7), some that went camping in various places, others that went here and there....lots of catching up.


Stormageddon was carted around behind one of the trikes at the birthday party. There's another photo of Little Man and one of his best friends (the friend is driving the trike, Little Man is standing behind him on the bar) and they've got Stormageddon in the car behind them. I have a feeling it's going to be like that for a long time: Stormageddon running along after them.



Stormageddon also got a balloon at the party. He was fascinated with it and had brought it around everywhere until all the air ran out of it. I had to throw it away because he kept asking me to make it be a bubble again. ::sigh::

On Monday, it was back to school and back to our routine. It was a little rough but we got going and all was well.

I decided to take some time this week and attempt to wash fleece. I have that merino fleece I bought at Lambtown last year and I pulled some of it out and washed it. It was a rather .....well, let's just say that I'm probably going to send the rest of the fleece off to Morro Fleece Works for the rest of the cleaning/processing. It was a learning experience and I'll probably never do it again.




The process is pretty straight forward but it's a mess and since I've not carded anything, I don't know how much I felted/matted the cleaned fleece. I'll get around to it.



I don't know that I've mentioned the boys' matching jammies. They had Mario & Luigi jammies that come as a set, so you get both Mario & Luigi jammies and I bought each boy a set. So they can both be either one at any time. I caught them as Mario (Stormageddon) and Luigi (Little Man).

The rest of this week got rough. On Thursday afternoon, I was at the cafe across the street from Little Man's school when I got an email, which went out to all the families/parents of the kids at Little Man's school. The email was informing us that one of the 1st graders had lost her mother. Little Man is in 1st grade. This is a woman I've known for over a year now. In fact, the family I mentioned above that had spent time in San Diego over break...it was that family. The daughter had just turned seven years old, they had just had a week in San Diego doing all the things (Sea World, Legoland, the San Diego Zoo, the beach), I had just seen them on Sunday and her briefly on Monday at drop-off. I basically broke down immediately, which I rarely do. Part of me was glad that I was out and part of me wishes I had been home alone. This woman was my friend and now she's gone, leaving behind her husband and daughter. The funeral was yesterday afternoon. Many of the 1st grade parents showed up (I'd say about 25-30% of the 1st grade families were represented), the current principal & the newly-retired principal, the daughter's kindergarten teacher from last year, her current 1st grade teacher, the PTA president, and of course other family and friends. They were Bay Area transplants, like Husband & I, with all their families on the east coast. It is an awful situation. She had just turned 40 years old last month. Our understanding is that she had an aneurysm burst while she was driving. In other words, it was totally unexpected.

Friday morning was hard. Because the email went out to the school, some of the parents opted to tell their kids and others wanted them to hear it from their teacher. I had to tell Little Man because he was with me when I burst into tears at the cafe. Most of the parents that went to the funeral yesterday had told their kids before school on Friday morning. But of course, Friday morning, we saw each other and we all started crying. It was just a rough day.

However, life needs to keep going forward, as it does. Friday morning was Little Man's costume parade and Halloween party & play. Stormageddon was uncooperative, as he usually is.




The second photos is entertaining if only because Stormageddon never really took a binky and he found one in my car and put it into his mouth. Silly boy.

Either Thursday or Friday, we carved pumpkins. I think it was Thursday but I honestly don't remember.



Stormageddon was also happy about the pumpkin carving endeavors. I'm not really sure why. He didn't like the pumpkin guts, and he tried the roasted pumpkin seed and spit it out, and he didn't really help all that much. Perhaps he just likes the spoils of war?



On Saturday, we had the Boos & Brews Halloween costume party. Husband & I were in charge of most of the food, we had it at another's house so they did decorations, one did desserts & drinks, and a fourth family helped out wherever (decorations, drinks, etc.). It was a good night. In other words, there were four hosting families. I may or may not have imbibed a bit too much alcohol and wound up falling asleep on the couch for a little while and I may or may not have had a nasty hangover on Sunday. Actually, I had a really nasty hangover that required two rounds of Tylenol, puking, and a shower, before I could handle being upright long enough to go over to the house and help with cleanup.

And, like I said, yesterday was the funeral. And very little knitting. It was a rough day yesterday.



I hope you had a lovely weekend, and happy Halloween :)

1 comment:

  1. Halloween and all the lead up to it is so intense for parents, I hear ya! And high fives on tackling fleece washing, that looks really interesting.

    ReplyDelete